5 Free Agents Who Won't Be Signing with the Cleveland Browns

The 2015 impending free-agent class is loaded with quality options who must have the Cleveland Browns and general manager Ray Farmer salivating. Unfortunately, some of the best options to fill positional weaknesses will ultimately sign elsewhere.

Based on an expected salary-cap figure between $138.6 million and $141.8 million—according to ESPN's Adam Schefter—Cleveland will have a minimum of roughly $25 million to spend at its own discretion, per Spotrac. Correspondingly, the Browns will have an opportunity to sign one or more big-name free agents.

Cleveland may have the necessary resources to sign high-end options such as tight end Julius Thomas or defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, but these stars already appear to be heading in different directions.

Let's take a look at five impending free agents who would look great in a Browns uniform but won't end up in Cleveland.

QB Brian Hoyer

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

With Johnny Manziel's NFL future up in the air, Cleveland is forced to consider returning Brian Hoyer for next season.

Hoyer, who led the Browns to seven victories in 2014, has expressed a desire to return to his hometown team, but he has also made contradictory statements. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Hoyer recently admitted the dysfunction within the Browns organization and the departure of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will play a role in his decision:

"

Brian Hoyer admits that Text-gate and Kyle Shanahan's departure will impact his decision: 'You don't just leave a… http://t.co/faf3H5Bx8o

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) February 7, 2015"

Farmer recently admitted to being guilty of texting during games—and these texts likely were regarding the Browns' quarterback situation—which can't be the outcome Hoyer was in favor of. Additionally, the comments of new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who was recently named Shanahan's replacement, could have rubbed him the wrong way.

"We're not sure if our starting quarterback is in the building right now or not," DeFilippo said, via ESPN.com's Pat McManamon. "If he is, great. If he's not, that's great too."

The Browns coaching staff and upper management didn't treat Hoyer with much respect last season, and it seems like that trend is continuing into the offseason. Since the impending free-agent quarterback class is rather thin, it wouldn't be surprising to see Hoyer sign with a team he feels more valued by.

CB Buster Skrine

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

With 2014 first-round pick Justin Gilbert struggling to get into a groove last season, cornerback Buster Skrine stepped up for the Browns. Now an impending free agent, Skrine will be looking to cash in coming off his best professional season.

Cornerback has become a sought-after position in the pass-heavy NFL, which should lead to Skrine receiving multiple generous offers in the open market.

Skrine set a career high with four interceptions in 2014 and matched his 2013 total with 18 pass defenses. The Cleveland cornerback was recently asked about his future with the Browns, and his response has to raise some concern:

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Buster Skrine: I would love to return to the Browns but I'm going to test the waters in free agency and see what's out there. #Browns

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) February 12, 2015"

To be direct, if Skrine truly "would love to return to the Browns," he wouldn't bother testing "the waters in free agency." This statement sounds more like a nice way of saying his tenure in Cleveland has run its course.

Is it possible the Browns re-sign Skrine? Sure. Given his talent and his considerably lower price tag than other free-agent cornerbacks—such as Darrelle Revis or Brandon Flowers—Skrine will almost certainly be playing his football in a city other than Cleveland next year.

TE Julius Thomas

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

After scoring 24 touchdowns over the past two seasons for the Denver Broncos, Julius Thomas will draw a ton of interest in free agency this year—if he reaches the open market.

With Jordan Cameron set to become a free agent after not performing at the level he did in 2013 this past season, the Browns may consider moving in a different direction. However, it isn't realistic to assume Cleveland will be in contention for Thomas' services.

Broncos general manager John Elway said in early January that his first priority was finding a new head coach, but re-signing Thomas (and Demaryius Thomas) was next on his list. Elway has since found a head coach in Gary Kubiak, which means he is likely already working on bringing back his top offensive weapons.

In addition, quarterback Peyton Manning is planning to return for an 18th NFL season:

"

Peyton Manning working out with an eye toward return for 18th NFL season http://t.co/qV9i505jg5

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) February 10, 2015"

Simply, the Browns can't compete with what the Broncos have to offer, and Thomas will surely re-sign with the club he has meant so much to over the past two seasons.

WR Jeremy Maclin

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Josh Gordon has been suspended indefinitely, and Miles Austin is an impending free agent. Consequently, Cleveland is now in the market for a No. 1 wide receiver.

There are plenty of big-name impending free agents at the wide receiver position. However, it doesn't seem like any of a group that also includes Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Randall Cobb and Jeremy Maclin will be switching teams this offseason.

Maclin, who missed all of the 2013 season with an ACL injury, returned with a 1,315-yard, 10-touchdown season in 2014. The Philadelphia Eagles haven't made it clear whether they will re-sign the 2014 Pro Bowler, which may lead to him being the top free-agent wide receiver this offseason—both Bryant and Thomas are expected to be re-signed immediately.

Although the Eagles haven't made their plans known, Maclin has been vocal about where he would like to play next season, per Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com:

"

Yeah, this is a great place to be. I've always spoken the best about this organization. Everything [Jeffrey] Lurie or Howie [Roseman] or Chip [Kelly] has told me has always been true. So why wouldn't I want to be here? This is the place that drafted me, and I want to end my career here. If we can get something worked out when the time is right, then that's what'll happen.

"

Jordan Matthews was impressive during his rookie season with the Eagles, but Maclin was the go-to option of both Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez. Simply put, Maclin's future is in Philadelphia, even if the team hasn't been clear about its intentions to date.

DT Ndamukong Suh

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin is another Browns 2014 starter expected to hit the open market in early March. Given that his negative-14.3 Pro Football Focus rating ranked last among Browns defensive players this past season, Rubin likely won't be back for 2015.

The Browns 3-4 defensive scheme relies heavily on the performance of its nose tackle. Naturally, this has led to plenty of speculation—per Kyle Meinkeof MLive.com—regarding the team signing dominant defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Suh may not be ideal from a character perspective, and he did play in a 4-3 alignment with the Detroit Lions over the past few seasons, but few would argue that the former Nebraska Cornhusker wouldn't dramatically improve the defensive trenches in Cleveland. With 36 sacks and four Pro Bowl appearances in five professional seasons, a strong argument could be made for Suh being the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL.

Unfortunately, Suh has already vocalized where he would like to be next season. Spoiler alert: It's not Cleveland:

"

Insider Buzz: The Seahawks are Ndamukong Suh’s number one choice, per @JasonPhilCole http://t.co/cmWy07ON5D pic.twitter.com/i37uwpTHRP

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 6, 2015"

It remains to be seen if the Seattle Seahawks and general manager John Schneider will honor Suh's wishes, but this is a realistic landing spot for the mauling defensive tackle. Russell Wilson is due a big contract, but Seattle should have more than $15 million in salary-cap space before roster cuts, according to Spotrac.

Suh could end up being snubbed by the Seahawks and field offers from other teams, but Cleveland doesn't seem like a realistic option. Based on his pick of Seattle, Suh is seemingly trying to land with a team as imposing as himself, and, to be fair, the Browns aren't looking too threatening these days.

His Detroit teammate Nick Fairley could be a realistic option, however, and the Browns have the means to add a bona fide stud in Washington's Danny Shelton at No. 12 during the 2015 draft.

Statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference unless otherwise noted.

For more NFL coverage, find me on Twitter @RobertReidell.